Best China Deal
China Construction Bank's restructuring and $9.23 billion IPO
Lead managers: CICC, Credit Suisse First Boston, Morgan Stanley
POWL: Daiwa SMBC, Nomura
Legal counsel: Herbert Smith, Skadden Arps, Freshfields, Davis Polk
Our deal of the year and the world's biggest IPO in five years. Investors vote of confidence in China's restructuring of its financial system enabled CCB to come at a premium to virtually every bank in Asia.
Best Hong Kong Deal
Link Reit's $2.8 billion IPO
Lead managers: Goldman Sachs, HSBC, UBS
Advisor to the Hong Kong government: JPMorgan
Legal counsel: Linklaters, Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance
One year and numerous legal actions later, the Hong Kong government priced the world's largest ever Reit IPO. A defining deal for Hong Kong, where the government has created a new asset class.
Best India Deal
The $4.8 billion demerger of Reliance Industries
Advisers: Kokilaben Ambani, KVKamath/ICICI Bank, Nimesh Kampani/JM Morgan Stanley
Legal counsel: Amarchand & Managaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co
This was the deal that defined India this year. When the Ambani brothers were fighting over the spoils of their father's empire, it spooked the market. Once the settlement was made, the Indian markets and Reliance itself saw massive outperformance. With the demerger Mukesh and Anil Ambani will run separate companies, splitting the conglomerate in two.
Best Indonesia Deal
Philip Morris $5.2 billion acquisition of HM Sampoerna
Buy and sellside adviser: Credit Suisse First Boston
Tender agent: Bahana
Legal counsel: Clifford Chance, White & Case
One of Indonesia's most prized companies changed hands this year, with US tobacco multinational, Philip Morris (now called Altria), taking control. A bold and well executed acquisition saw a prominent Indonesian family sellout, and a global company get a major foothold in a major market. The whole exercise represented a very big vote of confidence in Indonesia.
Best Korea Deal
Hite's $3.4 billion acquisition of Jinro
Sellside adviser: Merrill Lynch
Buyside adviser: UBS, KDB
Legal counsel: Herbert Smith, Woo Yun Kang Jeong & Han, Kim Chang & Lee, Horizon
For everyone that had a vested interest - from government through to Jinro employees and foreign creditors - this was a sensational 'win-win' transaction that symbolized the positive changes taking place in the new Korea inc.
Best Malaysia Deal
Cagamas RM2.05 billion RMBS
Lead managers: ABN AMRO, HSBC, AmMerchant Bank, CIMB
Legal counsel: Wong & Partners, Zaid Ibrahim & Co
The World's first rated Islamic RMBS offered domestic and international investors a new asset class as well as re-inforcing Malaysia's status as an Islamic financing hub.
Best Macau Deal
Wynn Resorts $729 million equivalent term loan and $117 million revolving credit facility
Coordinating Arrangers: Banc of America, Deutsche Bank, Societe Generale
Legal Counsel: Clifford Chance
Not quite a country, but a mecca for gamblers, triads and investment bankers. The US casino operator provided a benchmarking finance for the fast expanding industry and achieved a material improvement on the pricing, leverage and other commercial terms of its original financing deal.
Best Philippines Deal
SM Investments Corp's $530 million IPO
Lead manager: Macquarie Bank
Legal Counsel: Linklaters
Who would have ever thought there would be a $500 million plus IPO from the Philippines? One of the country's leading families took advantage of a bull run in the local stock market to achieve a premium valuation for their diverse operations.
Best Singapore Deal
Colony Capital's $700 million stapled financing
Mandated Lead Arrangers: Credit Suisse First Boston, Calyon, Aareal Bank
Legal counsel: Allen & Gledhill
Private equity firm buys Singapore institution and does so with an innovative financing package not seen in Asia before.
Best Taiwan Deal
International Bank of Taipei's $1.548 billion merger with SinoPac Financing Holding
IBT adviser: Morgan Stanley
SinoPac adviser: UBS
Legal counsel: Baker & McKenzie, Lee & Li
In a country where financial consolidation is desperately needed and has been equally slow, IBT and SinoPac bring the country's first merger of equals.
Best Thailand Deal
Dhanarak's Bt10.3 billion securitization
Lead managers: Bangkok Bank, HSBC and Thai Military Bank
Legal counsel: White & Case
A major breakthrough for the Thai financial market. With the government keen to spearhead infrastructure spending through a securitized structure, the Dhanarak deal (aka DAD) is a pioneer. Thailand's first ever future flow transaction was backed with 30 years worth of rentals from the new government headquarters in Cheng Wattan in Bangkok. Sold to institutions and retail investors.
